The City of Kinston, North Carolina, operating under a Council-Manager form of government, seeks an outstanding leader to be their next Fire-Rescue Chief.  The successful candidate has a track record of strong, consistent leadership with abilities in energizing the Department, continuously seeking performance excellence while leveraging resources in a tight budget climate.  This Fire-Rescue Chief will be engaged within the department but will also be visible and collaborative across City departments and a racially diverse community with the goal of meeting the safety needs of the City.

The Community:
Located on the Neuse river, 80 miles east of Raleigh, Kinston North Carolina, has a population of 21,500, a recipient of the prestigious All-America City award.  Kinston’s revitalized downtown is a destination for visitors and is home to the nationally renowned Chef and the Farmer Restaurant, Mother Earth Brewing and Mother Earth Lodge, Three Stacks Distillery and Lovick’s Café. Kinston is also one of the first stops along the African-American Music Trail celebrating legendary jazz and blues musicians. 

Fall, spring and summer temperatures in the area allow outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of a multitude of opportunities such as watching future major league players at historic Grainger Stadium, home of the Down East Wood Ducks, a class A minor league team; paddling along the Neuse river, strolling the River Walk, cooling off at the Lions Waterpark Adventure, or listening to music at Kinston Music Park.  In addition, a community fitness center, USTA tennis courts and multiple fields provide residents an opportunity to participate in sports such as basketball, softball, baseball, soccer and football.  Kinston is the home to a proportionately high number of current and former professional athletes who grew up participating in world-class athletic training programs offered through partnerships between the schools and the parks and recreation department.

Kinston is  also home to a number of large and small businesses.  Spirit AeroSystems manufacturing center as well as Lenoir County’s Global TransPark secure the area as a major player in the aerospace industry.  Other manufacturing and agriculture-based companies thrive in a community with Lenoir Community College.

Position description and responsibilities:  Reporting to the City Manager, the Fire -Rescue Chief will lead the Kinston Fire-Rescue Department (KFRD) which consists of 52 FTE staff to carry out the services of Suppression, Rescue, Education, Medical Responder and Community Involvement.  The Chief will supervise a $3.9M budget and three fire stations.  Staff work a three shift 24-48 schedule. There are three Engine Companies with a reserve at each station and one Ladder Truck which responds to over 3600 incidents per year with 70% or greater being medical responses.  Additionally, the Fire Prevention division provides community and education activities to keep the community informed and safe.  The Kinston Fire-Rescue Department carries an ISO rating of 2 for residential and commercial properties.  The Chief is expected to be visible, trusting his/her staff to manage incidents but engaged with fire fighters, citizens, and partners.  More information about the department can be found at http://www.ci.kinston.nc.us/167/Fire-Rescue.

The successful candidate:

• has a track record in creating camaraderie and common values across companies and shifts;
• understands and demonstrates the value of public initiatives that educate and brands the Department as an essential community builder not just emergency responder;
• collaborates with other municipal organizations to create partnerships and maximize resources such as training, equipment, mutual aid, etc.,
• has a proven track record in policy development and consistency of application;
• is skilled at engaging collaboratively and diplomatically with a variety of stakeholders such as fire department staff, other City employees, individual citizens, community groups, City Alderman, and regional, state and federal authorities in order to leverage department opportunities and manage challenges;
• is committed to continued training, professional development and succession planning for staff in order to build skills, achieve performance excellence and develop staff for promotional opportunities and varied job assignments;
• is an individual with the highest level of integrity and a proven record of consistency and reliable performance;
• has experience working in council-manager form of government and skills to both advocate for the department and partner to meet strategic goals of the City Council and City Manager;
• has held multiple assignments across functional areas such as suppression, prevention, EMS, and administration leading to a rich understanding of breadth and depth of roles that fire fighters assume.
• demonstrates knowledge and familiarity with all areas of fire suppression, rescue , operations, and prevention as well as technology supporting these functions;
• is skilled in budget development and management, policy development and application;
• is committed to developing progressive fire service strategies and advancing the department despite budget constraints; and,
• communicates well both verbally and in writing and possesses excellent interpersonal skills and abilities.

Qualifications and Pay:   
The City seeks a fire service leader with a minimum of 5 years at the Battalion Chief Rank with progressive fire service experience and a minimum of 15 years of cross-functional and progressively responsible experience including fire suppression, prevention, EMS and administrative work; a minimum of an associate’s degree is required while a BA/BS degree highly preferred.  Must have Chief 101 certification within one year of hire and prefer EFO designation. The hiring range is $78,000 – $91,189, depending on qualifications and experience.     While there is no residency requirement, the Chief is expected to live within a 50 mile radius.

To apply, you must complete an online application via Developmental Associates’ online system (or copy and paste https://www.developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/ into your browser).  Resumes may be uploaded to the system but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application.    All inquiries should be emailed to hiring@developmentalassociates.com.  The application review process begins September ­­18th and an assessment center will be held in Kinston on October 19-20 2018 for selected finalists. The City of Kinston is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC.